Lets say there is a north-south train line that is shared.
The schedule can create a number of north slots and south slots into which a train of a given speed and length can fit. A variety of different trains could fit into the same slot.
If a train is late, that train is moved into a later slot. That leaves a free slot where the train was going to go. Perhaps every later train is then delayed into a later slot also. Lets call this a rippling delay.
You would probably schedule some spare slots to prevent delays rippling through the entire day's schedule. Some slots might be long enough to permit several trains going in the same direction to travel (it's more efficient if 10 north trains go then 10 south trains rather than 10 north/south interleaved).
Lets say there is a north-south train line that is shared.
The schedule can create a number of north slots and south slots into which a train of a given speed and length can fit. A variety of different trains could fit into the same slot.
If a train is late, that train is moved into a later slot. That leaves a free slot where the train was going to go. Perhaps every later train is then delayed into a later slot also. Lets call this a rippling delay.
You would probably schedule some spare slots to prevent delays rippling through the entire day's schedule. Some slots might be long enough to permit several trains going in the same direction to travel (it's more efficient if 10 north trains go then 10 south trains rather than 10 north/south interleaved).